Antibiotics in Aquaculture Systems

Aquaculture is a rapidly growing industry that has doubled its production over the past decade. Antibiotics are commonly used in aquaculture systems to prevent diseases due to management in intensive conditions. The large amounts of veterinary drugs leached into the environment from aquaculture are cause for concern all over the world. These drugs result in increased antibiotic resistance of microorganisms, environmental impacts, and the presence of residues in food that are capable of causing allergy or toxicity in humans. Studies developed in the last two decades have found some alternatives to the massive use of antibiotics as prophylactics. Researchers agree that a key point is the limitation of the use of antibiotics and developing more restrictive regulation of their use, as has happened recently in the European Union and the United States. Some agents, such as bacteriophages, vaccines, probiotics, and others can fight directly with bacteria or help to prevent the cause of diseases in aquaculture. Current available information demonstrates that, if correct measures are implemented, the prophylactic use of antibiotics is not necessary.